Nate Newcomer, a seventh grader at Christian Academy of Carrollton, won the school level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 16. The school level bee is the first round in the 24th annual National Geographic Bee sponsored by Google. Newcomer will be eligible to compete in the Kentucky state bee held April 5.

Phi Sigma Theta has announced that Nicholas Carroll, son of Garlena Wilkerson of Carrollton, has recently become a member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society at the University of Kentucky. Phi Sigma Theta is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and rewarding academic achievement in undergraduates at institutions of higher learning.

As students enter the lobby of Kathryn Winn Primary School, a quotation, painted in bold letters, stares down from the walls of the recessed ceiling: “The Road to College Begins Here.” The students start out each day circled around the edges of the gymnasium and engage in a call and response chant led by their principal Gerda Wise. After asking each grade when they are “going to college to get more knowledge,” the students shout out in unison the year they are scheduled to graduate from high school.

Somerset Community College has named Scott Abbott of Carrollton to the dean’s list for the Fall 2012 semester. Abbott is a full time student working towards a degree in applied science while majoring in aviation maintenance technology. He is the son of Sandra Abbott of Carrollton. and the grandson of Mary Abbott also of Carrollton and the late George Abbott.

A grade point average of 3.5 or higher must be maintained to be on the deans list.

Operation Preparation, a state-wide program promoting college and career readiness among middle and high school students, has expanded from one week in 2012 to the entire month of March this year. Every student in eighth and 10th grade will meet face-to-face with a trained volunteer about a possible career area the student has identified in his or her Individual Learning Plan (ILP).